but why do people think nadal's been so successful at wimbledon, but not nearly as successful at USO. admittedly pretty limited data, but does wimbledon now play slower than USO? even if slower i can't see the bounces being larger... and wonder same thing about wimbledon vs. AO, but strikes me that nadal was injured last year at AO.

thanks in advance!! as i said, i realize that there aren't too many data points on his W vs. USO

but why do people think nadal's been so successful at wimbledon, but not nearly as successful at USO. admittedly pretty limited data, but does wimbledon now play slower than USO? even if slower i can't see the bounces being larger... and wonder same thing about wimbledon vs. AO, but strikes me that nadal was injured last year at AO.

thanks in advance!! as i said, i realize that there aren't too many data points on his W vs. USO

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Yes, there was a thread about it.
Nadal is pretty good on natural surfaces with it's multiple bad bounces and his footwork works better than on a hardcourt.
Furthermore, there are very few players who can play good on grass and can cope with those irregular bounces the way Federer or Nadal do. So he has less of a competion on this surface, than on hard were the gamestyle of Blake and others, who pose a threat for him, are most suited to.

hard courts are now much faster than grass. The ball bounces higher on grass now then on does on hard courts according to mcenroe. This makes playing conditions similar to clay.
________HONDA AVANCIER SPECIFICATIONS

I think Nadal is the same. I just think everyone else is much better on hard courts. Easier to take it early, punish a second serve, and etc.

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That's a good point. But it doesn't really take into account Nadal's success in masters hard-courts, as opposed to Slams. He is arguably the 2nd best grass player the last two years, but yet hasn't even gotten to the final of a Wimby warm-up. Then he does very well in hard-court masters events, but tanks at slams. Puzzling to me.

He is arguably the 2nd best grass player the last two years, but yet hasn't even gotten to the final of a Wimby warm-up. Puzzling to me.

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Yeah Queens is probably the fastest tournament on tour. Also Nadal is fatigued after the French Open (only 2 days of rest). Probably both make a difference. Wimbledon is fast to but not as much as Queens.

Yeah Queens is probably the fastest tournament on tour. Also Nadal is fatigued after the French Open (only 2 days of rest). Probably both make a difference. Wimbledon is fast to but not as much as Queens.

The only things it is similar to grass is the irregular bounce and a slippery surface. Otherwise grass is clearly faster than clay. Not even close there.

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Yes, Wimbledon is faster than clay, but the US Open is MUCH faster than Wimbledon. I would put Wimbledon, Miami, and Indian Wells on an equal footing as far as speed is concerned. But the US Open, Paris, Cincinnati, and Shanghai are MUCH faster with low skipping balls. AO will now join the later group with their surface change this year.